Polarizability

[Yeprem]

What does polarizability represent?

[ALee_1J]

Polarizability is a measure of how easily an electron cloud is distorted by an electric field. I.e. can I pull all the electrons to one side of the atom to create a slightly positive side and a slightly negative side. Basically, the more tightly held the electrons are, the less polarizable they are. The less tightly held, the more polarizable. I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that polarizability trends are opposite of those of electronegativity. So fluorine would be the least polarizable since it is the most electronegative/has the most tightly held electrons.

[IreneGi2I]

The more electronegative the atom is, the less the atom will be polarizable. It is because high electronegative atoms have electrons being tightly held together. Also, larger atoms are more polarizable because the volume which electrons occupy increases (larger electron clouds). Since larger electron clouds can be distorted more easily, larger atoms are more polarizable. Hope this helps!

[Yeprem]

thank you that helped a lot